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I'm not much for hanging out in cities on my own, when I have the option of being with friends in Madrid.
Our first time in Santiago we stayed two nights. It was enough...for a first time...and I'm sure you will enjoy being with friends in Madrid at Christmas time. For our second visit, we spent four days, which included walking back to Monte Gozo to watch the sunset from the hill with the pilgrim statues on it...unforgettably beautiful, seeing the sites in Santiago itself and hiking beyond Santiago to parks and hills nearby which also provided unique views and photos, while providing an opportunity to be with local residents rather than pilgrims/tourists. Spending more days also meant we kept seeing fellow pilgrims we had met along the way arrive in Santiago. It was great fun embracing, having coffee and sharing tales of the camino.I plan to arrive in Santiago on December 23, 2021 from Pedrouzo and then to fly to Madrid to join friends who live there for the holidays the next day. I will be walking solo and am not sure when to book my flight out of Santiago. My choices are 7:10 and 14:10. One is very early; the other leaves me with perhaps too much time on my own on Christmas Eve. I don't want to rob myself of time in Santiago, yet, I'm not much for hanging out in cities on my own, when I have the option of being with friends in Madrid. What do you experienced pellegrinos suggest, as far as time spent in Santiago de Compostela?
Gracias.
Santiago is a different kind of city experience: you'll probably keep running into camino friends.I'm not much for hanging out in cities on my own, when I have the option of being with friends in Madrid
You do not want to take a train? The fast train takes a little over 4 hours and very comfortable. There is a very early train around 7:00 am, around 11:00 am, around 4pm, one late in the evening etc. (sorry I don't have the exact departure times. It's difficult to find a time table online and can't make a seat reservation online. There are around 4 departures each day. If you count the time to get to the airport, going through the security, etc., it does not take much longer than flying. It also has a dining section. The train station is about 15 minutes walk. I always buy a ticket in advance. If you are over 60, you can buy a DORADA card for 6 Euros, which is good for 1 year for deep discounts on various trains, and get 25% off right there. It cost me around 43 Euros. to MadridI plan to arrive in Santiago on December 23, 2021 from Pedrouzo and then to fly to Madrid to join friends who live there for the holidays the next day. I will be walking solo and am not sure when to book my flight out of Santiago. My choices are 7:10 and 14:10. One is very early; the other leaves me with perhaps too much time on my own on Christmas Eve. I don't want to rob myself of time in Santiago, yet, I'm not much for hanging out in cities on my own, when I have the option of being with friends in Madrid. What do you experienced pellegrinos suggest, as far as time spent in Santiago de Compostela?
Gracias.
Loved the fast train from Santiago to Madrid. Probably no more time over all than than flying. So much more comfortable as opposed to an airplane cylinder!You do not want to take a train? The fast train takes a little over 4 hours and very comfortable. There is a very early train around 7:00 am, around 11:00 am, around 4pm, one late in the evening etc. (sorry I don't have the exact departure times. It's difficult to find a time table online and can't make a seat reservation online. There are around 4 departures each day. If you count the time to get to the airport, going through the security, etc., it does not take much longer than flying. It also has a dining section. The train station is about 15 minutes walk. I always buy a ticket in advance. If you are over 60, you can buy a DORADA card for 6 Euros, which is good for 1 year for deep discounts on various trains, and get 25% off right there. It cost me around 43 Euros. to Madrid
We've done both from Santiago to Madrid. The train wins hands down.Loved the fast train from Santiago to Madrid. Probably no more time over all than than flying. So much more comfortable as opposed to an airplane cylinder!
Thank you! I hope that if I enjoy this camino I will be back in Santiago and can spend more time there. I decided to stay one night and fly back to Madrid early the next afternoon.Our first time in Santiago we stayed two nights. It was enough...for a first time...and I'm sure you will enjoy being with friends in Madrid at Christmas time. For our second visit, we spent four days, which included walking back to Monte Gozo to watch the sunset from the hill with the pilgrim statues on it...unforgettably beautiful, seeing the sites in Santiago itself and hiking beyond Santiago to parks and hills nearby which also provided unique views and photos, while providing an opportunity to be with local residents rather than pilgrims/tourists. Spending more days also meant we kept seeing fellow pilgrims we had met along the way arrive in Santiago. It was great fun embracing, having coffee and sharing tales of the camino.
Next time I will do the train for sure. When I tried to find trains today, I could find nothing with a duration of about five hours. Maybe I was on the wrong site.We've done both from Santiago to Madrid. The train wins hands down.
I was overwhelmed and couldn't find the proper train, so I booked a flight.We've done both from Santiago to Madrid. The train wins hands down.
I messed up and ended up booking a flight.We've done both from Santiago to Madrid. The train wins hands down.
Good to know about the DORADA card. I felt anxious about getting things sorted in advance, so I booked a flight. Couldn't figure out how to find the schedule and book it online.You do not want to take a train? The fast train takes a little over 4 hours and very comfortable. There is a very early train around 7:00 am, around 11:00 am, around 4pm, one late in the evening etc. (sorry I don't have the exact departure times. It's difficult to find a time table online and can't make a seat reservation online. There are around 4 departures each day. If you count the time to get to the airport, going through the security, etc., it does not take much longer than flying. It also has a dining section. The train station is about 15 minutes walk. I always buy a ticket in advance. If you are over 60, you can buy a DORADA card for 6 Euros, which is good for 1 year for deep discounts on various trains, and get 25% off right there. It cost me around 43 Euros. to Madrid
I looked for trains for December 24th, and only found a 9+ hour journey.Next time I will do the train for sure. When I tried to find trains today, I could find nothing with a duration of about five hours. Maybe I was on the wrong site.
Perhaps it's a Christmas Eve thing. A pity. Well, you tried, and now you can relax knowing this piece of the logistic puzzle is solved.I was overwhelmed and couldn't find the proper train, so I booked a flight.
I am not surprised that you couldn't find anything online. Not all trains are listed online, not even on Eurail site or other sites that sell train and bus tickets. It's like Booking.com does not list all the available properties or even available rooms on each hotel. One really doesn't know until inquire within the train station. I do find it very odd, but I learned to be patient with the Spanish rail system. I have taken fast trains from SdP to Madrid many times, and know that there are about 4 fast trains daily in average. Are you able to call the train station? You cannot reserve a seat over the phone but they can tell you the schedule. They are not the most friendly people over the phone but by being persistent, I was able to get the information I needed. When I say not "friendly" I don't mean that they are really "unfriendly", rather it is just they way they handle things. They don't mean to be "unfriendly" in English terms that we are used to.Next time I will do the train for sure. When I tried to find trains today, I could find nothing with a duration of about five hours. Maybe I was on the wrong site.
The Renfe train tables/ticket purchasing options for Santiago to Madrid are a bit odd. In fact, it starts to be odd from the 21st of December onwards. I also see news articles that say that the AVE high speed train will run from Madrid to Santiago and back from the 21st of December onwards. The whole journey will take about 3 hours and 20 minutes.I looked for trains for December 24th, and only found a 9+ hour journey.
Wow!The whole journey will take about 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Yes, when there is a better alternative on terra firma...It will become harder and harder to justify short-distance flights ...
Unfortunately, you were on the right site but just too early. I must say I find it weird that the Renfe website does not let you look at timetables, you can only see train times when tickets are for sale and they weren't in this case because of the promotion campaign that was launched only today. Pity!Next time I will do the train for sure. When I tried to find trains today, I could find nothing with a duration of about five hours. Maybe I was on the wrong site.
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